Firehouse Heroism and Community Service Awards: $100 Winners

Kevin Austin

Lexington, KY, FD

Protected citizens from gunfire that broke out following a traffic accident involving an apparatus and a civilian vehicle.

Timothy Barb

Fairfax County, VA, FD

While off duty, witnessed car crash on interstate. Stopped traffic and located ejected victim not breathing. Opened airway and administered rescue breathing until help arrived.

Peter Bolen

Columbus, OH, FD

Responded to call of victim in distress in river. Donned life vest and tied second one to a rope. Swam out, put vest on victim and towed victim to shore.

Marc P. Cain

City of Columbus, GA, Division of Fire

Helped rescue trapped construction workers who were dangling from the top of a collapsed building. Placed workers on outside of bucket and held on until reaching the ground.

Ralph Carroll

Sumter, SC, FD

Helped advance line into  burning building. Left line to search for trapped victim. Using TIC, located unconscious victim and helped remove and administer CPR.

Mark Duncan

St. Louis, MO, FD

Forced entry with heavy fire on third floor and smoke and fire on second floor. Located child and infant on second floor and helped remove to safety.

Christopher Enriquez

Los Angeles County, CA, FD

Entered building with no line in heavy smoke and heat conditions searching for trapped victims, but driven back by flashover. Re-entered with line and finds victim.

Raul Garcia

Los Angeles County, CA, FD

Entered building with no line in heavy smoke and heat conditions searching for trapped victims, but driven back by flashover. Re-entered with line and found victim.

Chris Geddings

Sumter, SC, FD

Placed ladder to second-floor window of burning structure to search for two trapped children. Found female victim and removed. Returned and helped remove second child.

Richard Gobble

Ripley, WV, FD

Responded to report of vehicle crashing into a creek. Waded out into frigid water with strong currents, removed driver and led driver back to shore.

Jeff Green

Bettendorf, IA, Fire & Rescue

While participating in rope rescue drills, heard screams from nearby lake. With no equipment, swam out 50 feet and helped pull victim ashore.

William Hawkins

Prince George’s County, MD, FD

Noticed erratically driven car and radioed for help. Activated warning lights and forced vehicle to curb. Found and tended to elderly driver having diabetic emergency.

Joe Heininger

Kansas City, KS, FD

Entered burning building in heavy smoke conditions to search for trapped victims. Located unconscious woman and helped carry her to safety.

Shawn Holloway

Lexington, KY, FD

Protected citizens from gunfire that broke out following a traffic accident involving an apparatus and a civilian vehicle.

Rudy Iturrino

Fairfax County, VA, FD

While off duty, responded to motor vehicle accident. Without gear, helped free driver and passenger, both in respiratory distress. Provided critical care until EMS arrived.

John Keller

Corpus Christi, TX, FD

Pulled off two water rescues three months apart. In each case, swam out and placed victim in personal flotation device and swam victim back to shore.

Steve Kingsley

Bettendorf, IA, Fire & Rescue

While participating in rope rescue drills, heard screams from nearby lake. With no equipment, swam out 50 feet and helped pull victim ashore.

Scott M. Kulpa

City of Columbus, GA, Division of Fire

Helped rescue trapped construction workers who were dangling from the top of a collapsed building. Placed workers on outside of bucket and held on until reaching the ground.

Jeffrey Lane

Kansas City, KS, FD

With no line, entered building in heavy fire conditions and ascended stairs searching for victims. Led first victim to stairs and assisted in removing second victim.

Gabriel Lopez

San Francisco, CA, FD

While off duty, spotted a man on fire running from a burning building. Extinguished fire administered care and remained with patient until air ambulance support arrived.

Chad Maly

Cincinnati, OH, FD

Ascended to second floor of burning building searching for trapped victims. Sheltered three victims before leading them out, one by one, through heavy smoke by sharing SCBA.

John Manchester

Chicago, IL, FD

Gained entry into commercial structure showing heavy smoke. Heard screams and proceeded past hoseline to rescue barely conscious female who was trapped in utility room.

Vincent Mautone

Newark, NJ, FD

Stretched line to third floor of burning building between fire and man trying to escape by jumping from window. Calmed man until ladder was raised.

Brad McClain

Lexington, KY, FD

Protected citizens from gunfire that broke out following a traffic accident involving an apparatus and a civilian vehicle.

Chad Molochnick

Willimantic, CT, FD

Ascended outside stairs to third floor of burning building and forced entry. Found unconscious victim in high-heat, zero-visibility conditions. Carried victim to safety and administered CPR.

William Moreland

Fairfax County, VA, FD

While off duty, donned PPE and entered smoke-filled townhouse. Found several citizens trying to rescue wheelchair-bound woman. Took command and ensured everyone made it out safely.

Martin Nolan

Chicago, IL, FD

Entered 20-foot-deep water with personal flotation device and rope and secured struggling victim 25 feet from shore before they were both pulled to safety.

Phillip Osner

Kansas City, KS, FD

Prevented combative patient who had exited ambulance from jumping off a bridge. Held onto dangling patient until help arrived and victim was pulled to safety.

Ronald A. Palmer Jr.

Willimantic, CT, FD

Ascended outside stairs to third floor of burning building and forced entry. Found unconscious victim in high-heat, zero-visibility conditions. Carried victim to safety and administered CPR.

James Pisauro

Newark, NJ, FD

Raised 35-foot ladder to third- floor window where man was trying to escape fire by jumping. Ascended ladder, removed man and lead to safety.

Kyle Ricketts

Kansas City, KS, FD

Prevented combative patient who had exited ambulance from jumping off a bridge. With assistance, helped pull dang-ling patient back to safety.

Jacob Righter

Kansas City, KS, FD

Entered burning building in heavy smoke conditions to search for trapped victims. Located unconscious woman and helped carry her to safety.

Taylor Riley

Lakeland, FL, FD

Entered side window of structure that was 95% engulfed in flames in search of trapped victim. Located victim and carried lifeless body out of the structure.

Angelo Rizzitello

Newark, NJ, FD

Raised 35-foot ladder to third-floor window where man was trying to escape fire by jumping. Held ladder until rescue was performed.

Ernest Robinett

Columbus, OH, FD

Entered burning building with no line, located semi-conscious victim and dragged into hallway. With help of partner, carried victim to safety.

Lazaro Rodriguez

Newark, NJ, FD

Raised 35-foot ladder to third-floor window where man was trying to escape fire by jumping. Held ladder until rescue was performed.

Christopher Rowe

Long Beach, CA, FD

While off duty, entered burning house without gear or hoseline and carried elderly victim to safety. Re-entered house in high heat and heavy smoke to continue search.

Keith A. Sims

City of Columbus, GA, Division of Fire

Helped rescue trapped construction workers who were dangling from the top of a collapsed building. Placed workers on outside of bucket and held on until reaching the ground.

Mike Stanley

Aurora, CO, FD

While off duty, was riding a light rail that accidentally hit a young woman. Jumped off rail and provided patient care until paramedics arrived.

Rafael Tellez

Newark, NJ, FD

Stretched line to third floor of burning building between fire and man trying to escape by jumping from window. Calmed man until ladder was raised.

Jamie Tinsley

Lexington, KY, FD

Protected citizens from gunfire that broke out following a traffic accident involving an apparatus and a civilian vehicle.

Steven Vaughan

St. Louis, MO, FD

Forced entry with heavy fire on third floor and smoke and fire on second floor. Located child and infant on second floor and helped remove to safety.

Brandy Walker

Fairfax County, VA, FD

While off duty, responded to motor vehicle accident. Without gear, helped free driver and passenger, both in respiratory distress. Provided critical care until EMS arrived.

Mike Weller

Cincinnati, OH, FD

Placed aerial ladder to third-floor window and, with help, removed two small children. Returned to ladder and rescued adult female.

Jerome Williams

Fairfax County, VA, FD

Responded during a derecho to find an unconscious victim who had been shocked by a downed power line. Revived victim with AED and moved to safety.

Darrin Witt

Huntington Beach, CA, FD

Responded as investigator to house fire. Entered smoke-filled structure without gear to locate band remove disoriented victim. Received second-degree burns to hand.